THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENT AND DESIGN
Fall Semester 2011
Syllabus
LAND 6010
Landscapes Studio (4 credit hours)
Class times: M F 1:25-4:25; W 1:25-3:20
Classroom: Room 103 Denmark Hall
Professor: Professor Georgia Harrison
Office: 504 Caldwell Hall
Phone: 542.9781 (off)
Email: sgharris@UGA.EDU
Office hours: (by appointment – not available T Th 8-10:30)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Introduction to design, studio methods and the design process. Studio projects will be
assigned to expose students to a wide range of approaches to design and landscapes.
Projects encompassing a variety of scales and levels of complexity will be assigned; but
emphasis will be on exercises concerning the making of place relative to human scale.
OBJECTIVES
Knowledge: Upon completion of this course, students with a passing evaluation will have
demonstrated the following:
o an understanding of design elements and ordering principles of design;
o an understanding of mass-void relationships;
o an understanding of how landscape elements (water, plants, landform,
structure) create place;
o an understanding of the concepts of entry, path, place, prospect, and
sanctuary.
Skills: Upon completion of this course, students with a passing evaluation will have
demonstrated the following:
o the ability to generate design ideas and critically evaluate design
alternatives;
o the ability to represent those ideas clearly with verbal, graphic and written
communication.
Values: Upon completion of this course, students with a passing evaluation will have
demonstrated the following:
o an appreciation for the importance of high-quality design in the built
environment;
o an appreciation for the work of the masters or “heroes” of landscape
architecture.
METHODS
This is a studio format course supplemented with lectures, readings, in-class discussions,
critiques and possible field trips. Impromptu pin-up sessions will occur periodically
along with scheduled formal reviews. Students are expected to be in studio, working
diligently at their desks, the entire time allotted to this class, unless directed otherwise.
An essential part of learning derives from the shared experience of working with
classmates in a high energy environment. Students are strongly encouraged to continue
assigned work in the studio after class hours as well.
Students are expected to keep a sketch journal as a companion to their studio work to
help develop design ideas and expression. Sketchbooks are for private use, but students
may choose to use them as a means of sharing ideas during desk critiques.
Studio emphasis will include the use of sketch and overlay method as the primary design
approach. All drawings will be prepared by hand-drawing. Your AutoCAD skills will be
developed after this class.
MATERIALS
Basic drafting equipment including, but limited to:
parallel bar, or “Mayline” (preferred over t-square)
triangles
technical drafting pens
flairs or sign pens
lead pencils with H and HB leads (use either a lead pointer or standard wooden
pencils - do not use mechanical pencils for either drafting or sketching),
sketchbook: Strathmore 400 Series (or equal) (8”x10” or 8.5”x11”)
314 pencils
vellum
24” and 12” tracing paper
black binder clips (medium small)
Most of these will already be in your graphics kit. Additional papers and materials that
are required will be announced at the beginning of each project.
Please keep a roll of 12” tracing paper at your desk for studio critiques, as well as for
efficiency in generating multiple variations of a design idea.
A recommended variation on the T-square is a (Mayline) parallel bar, or straightedge.
These may be purchased through Dataprint or GS Direct online at reasonable prices. You
may attach it directly to the Borco board cover on your desktop. Each year you would
transfer it to a different desktop.
READINGS
Required:
Ching, Francis. Architecture: Form, Space & Order
Recommended:
Alexander, Christopher. A Pattern Language
Crowe, Sylvia. Garden Design
Dee, Catherine. Form and Fabric in Landscape Architecture
Edwards, Betty. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Lynch, Kevin. Site Planning
Peterson, Bryan. Using Design Basics to Get Creative Results
Tuan, Yi Fu. Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience
(Additional readings may be assigned periodically to accompany project assignments.)
PROJECTED SCHEDULE AND DEADLINES
The following event dates, projects and anticipated deadlines are approximate and
subject to change:
Assignment 1
(3 classes)
Composition in Black and White
(Due: August 22)
Assignment 2
(3 classes)
Composition #2
(Due: August 26)
Assignment 3
(2 classes)
Figures in Light and Shadow
(Due: August 31)
Labor Day Holiday
No Class
(September 5)
Assignment 4
(2 classes)
Wall & Ceiling/Land Art
(Due: September 7)
Assignment 5
(2 classes)
Observations of Path & Place
(Due: September 12)
Assignment 6
(12 classes)
Tunnel
(Model Due: September 26;
Boards Due: October 10)
Assignment 7
(7 classes)
Design Analysis
(Due: October 26)
Fall Break
No Class
(October 29)
Assignment 8
(14 classes)
Sculpture Garden
(Pinups: November 2, 7, 9, 14;
Final Due: December 9)
Projects and performance are anticipated to receive the following relative weights
(subject to minor revision):
Class Participation/Attendance/Professionalism:
Figures in Light and Shadow
Composition in Black & White
Composition #2 in Black & White
Wall/Ceiling/Landscape
Observations of Path & Place
Tunnel
Design Analysis
Sculpture Garden
4%
2%
3 or 7%
3 or 7%
7%
7%
25%
20%
25%
GRADING SYSTEM
Performance will be based on the University system with percentages as follows:
A=90% and above
Work reflects superior design and graphic ability, logically thought
out and presented. Changes or revisions would be minor.
B=80% to 89.9%
Work shows a good understanding of the theory and concepts
involved in the project, but must be slightly reworked.
C=70% to 79.9%
Work indicates a satisfactory understanding and execution of the
project. Moderate revisions would be necessary.
D=60% to 69.9%
Work is incomplete and demonstrates poor or inconsistent design
process and project solution.
F=59.9% and below Work is unacceptable, generally incomplete and shows a failure to
comprehend and present subject matter.
Plus/minus grades will be assigned according to the following scale:
A = 94 to 100
A- = 90 to 93.9
B+ = 87 to 89.9
B = 84 to 86.9
B- = 80 to 83.9
C+ = 77 to 79.9
C = 74 to 76.9
C- = 70 to 73.9
D = 60 to 69.9
F = 0 to 59.9
CLASS STANDARDS
Conduct: Because this is a graduate level course, students will not be lectured on the
importance of attending class. Having stated that, role will be taken at the beginning of
each class, and if a student establishes a regular and persistent problem of missing classes
or arriving late, action will be taken, on advisement from the graduate coordinator, that
may impede the student’s further progress in this degree program. A surly or
uncooperative attitude towards the teacher or fellow classmates will also not be tolerated
and will be considered a sign of the student’s lack of interest and commitment in
continuing the program.
Due dates and deadlines: Assignments must be submitted on the stated due date, time and
place. If work is not submitted as specified by the instructor, the grade will be reduced
one letter grade per day. Work missed due to illness is required to be submitted no later
than one week from the student’s return to class. Other situations will be dealt with on a
case by case basis between the student and the instructor outside of class time, and
arrangements will be made in writing, signed by both the student and instructor. Please
do not attempt to discuss late work or absences at the beginning of a class period.
Grades: If a student wishes to protest a grade assigned to a project, the request must be
made in writing and submitted to the instructor. No discussion of such grades will
occur during class periods.
During class times there will be no music played in the studio and no use of alcohol or
tobacco of any kind. Please observe common courtesy and good judgment when working
in the studio at all times. Smoking in classrooms and alcohol use on state property are
banned by state law.
All students are responsible for knowing the University’s policy on academic honesty.
All academic work submitted in this course must be your own unless you have received
the instructor’s permission to collaborate and have properly acknowledged receiving
assistance. It is the instructor’s responsibility to uphold the University’s academic
honesty policy and report any suspicions of dishonesty to the Office of the Vice President
for Instruction.
Students who know or suspect that they have any type of learning disability must inform
the instructor of such disability in writing before the third class meeting. The instructor
will work with the University Counseling and Testing Center to accommodate the needs
of such students. Without such notification, no special accommodations will be
considered at any later date. Students with documented learning disabilities are served by
the Learning Disabilities Center in Aderhold Hall (542-4589).
Documentation: Students may be asked to submit scans of some or all semester work to
the instructor on CD at the end of the semester in order to obtain a course grade.
Clarification of exact expectations and format will be given at the end of the semester.
Some original work may be kept by the instructor after the completion of the course for
accreditation and documentation purposes. All work produced in classes is the property
of the University of Georgia.